Colloidal Silver Experiment

Here's a photo of my CS experiment.

Well, I was so fascinated by the results of the first experiment with colloidal silver and tomato paste, that I decided to expand the experimentation. I combined many different ingredients (that I used often for health purposes) with tomato sauce (TS) to see what would happen. I put one Tablespoon of sauce plus one Tablespoon of one other ingredient in each of a dozen cups. I covered the cups with plastic wrap and put them on a shelf in my laundry room. After 8 days I checked on them. Some had no mold at all. Some had lots. Ugh! Here is how they fared, from worst to best.

Tomato Sauce only - Grew the most mold!

Distilled water plus TS - Lots of mold!

Water from my well plus TS - Lots, but less than with distilled.

200 ppm Colloidal Silver plus TS - some mold

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil plus TS - some mold

Powdered Turmeric plus TS - some mold

Charcoal powder plus TS - moldy "haze"

30ppm Colloidal Silver plus TS - "haze" of mold

Powdered Ginger plus TS - only a tiny bit of mold

Processed Coconut Oil - tiny bit of mold

Garlic Powder plus TS - no mold!

Fresh minced garlic plus TS - no mold!

Salt plus TS - no mold!

I was quite impressed with the anti-mold properties of garlic and salt. I was impressed that the powdered garlic worked as well as the fresh. I would have let it go longer to see what would happen but I got tired of having my laundry room smell like garlic! :)

I was puzzled that the 200 ppm Colloidal Silver grew more mold than the 30 ppm Colloidal Silver. I have just bought a ppm tester and will be repeating this part of the experiment as I was only guessing the concentration of the silver in these.

I was not surprised that coconut oil had anti-mold properties. I WAS surprised that the processed seemed to retard it better.

I was thrilled that my well water grew less mold than the distilled. It makes me think one of the minerals in it must have an anti-mold property.

Of course, none of this proves anything about any of the above's abilities to kill viruses, bacterial, infection, etc. But it does tell me that the things I used in my experiment do have varying abilities to retard the growth of mold. To me, this does indicate a strength in these natural remedies. It is easy to think, how can some spice be strong enough to fight against a disease? But experiments like this increase my confidence in the humble power of plants and the potential of natural remedies!

~Mama to Many~

To Mama,

Your experiment on anti mold;

Cool.

Makes sense that historically salt cured substances were safe to eat; and why historically why garlic is considered so effective an anti bacterial and anti viral.

I have a theory on the ppm issue re Colloidal Silver but want to check out with one of my authorities before I opine on the same.

Mama, I'm impressed!

I am glad to know that garlic and salt have the best effect when it comes to controlling mold. They are the most common remedies that are present in all people's kitchen. I'm just wondering why you have not done an experiment with tomato sauce and apple cider vinegar?

Dear John,

How did I miss this? Yes, Apple Cider Vinegar would have been a great thing to include in my experiment! I may have to go back and do some more tomato sauce experimenting! Thanks for the idea!

~Mama to Many~

Yes, I would also like to know what you may have discovered re ACV-- your common sense experiments are Science in the pure sense of the word & I hope you will post more.

Dear Yellowbird,

Hi! I forgot all about that experiment. Thank you for the reminder! I will try and do that soon!

~Mama to Many~

Tomato Sauce and Vinegar Experiment

Last week I put a Tablespoon of Tomato Sauce and a Tablespoon of well water in one cup. I put one Tablespoon of Tomato Sauce and one Tablespoon of Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar into another cup. I covered both and put them in my laundry room.

Today I found the water and tomato sauce cup had significant mold. The vinegar and tomato sauce had none. I may leave it a while and see how long it takes to grow some mold.

I am not surprised. Vinegar has a history of being used as a preservative.

~Mama to Many~

Thanks for posting all your results, mama. I believe strongly in the healing power of vinegar, as I am a chemically-sensitive housekeeper that is allergic to chlorine products. I've used plain white vinegar to clean all my own and my clients' kitchen & bath surfaces for years now and never had a glimmer of mildew show up except where the vinegar couldn't reach!

Dear Yellowbird,

I think it is wonderful that you use vinegar for cleaning your home and those of your clients. I use vinegar and baking soda for most of my cleaning, too. It is a blessing for those you clean for as well to not have those chemicals in the house.

I know a couple of ladies who clean houses and have skin problems. I have always wondered if their troubles were caused by such heavy exposure to cleaning chemicals.

~Mama to Many~

Thank you Mama to Many for conducting the experiment with tomato sauce and apple cider vinegar.

I have another concern, can you recommend the safest cleaning solution to remove fatty residue in plastic plates, cups, and containers? We used to mix soap with small amount of chlorine diluted in water to remove the oil. Thanks!

Dear John,

To clean out anything greasy, I usually use very hot water and just some dish soap. If that doesn't work, I have the pot or plate or whatever wet (with hot water) and generously sprinkle baking soda on it and scrub it clean. I keep a jar (that used to hold Parmesan Cheese) with baking soda next to my sink for times such as this. This is also how I clean my bathroom sink, which tends to get pretty greasy since I have several oils there that I use for body care. (Castor oil, etc. Really messy! ) I also use baking soda to clean my bathtubs.

~Mama to Many~